Improvement in shoe-fastenings



G. MERRILL. Shoe-Fastenings.

Patented Dec 29,1874..

umuulll u v THE GRAPHIC CO. PHOTO -LITH,35& 4| PARK PLAEE,N.Y.

UNITED STATES GEORGE MERRILL, OF NEW YORK, Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 158,178, dated December 29, 1874; application filed October 2, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MERRILL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Fastenings for Shoes, Garments, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a novel, simple, and easily-manipulated fastening to be used on shoes, garments, and other articles, instead of the ordinary buttons and button-holes; and consists of a bar or rod with a button or suitable enlargement at one end, and arranged to draw together the two portions of the article to be fastened, and securely hold them in such position, as hereinafter described.

Figure l is a side View of a shoe having two of my fasteners applied, the flap being shown in position to expose the fastenings. Fig. 2 is a View of the same shoe as it appears when fastened. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 show the construction of the locking-bars previous to their being attached to the object.

Referring to Fig. 1, near the outer edge of the flap of shoe I insert eyelets, in the usual manner, through which the bars are placed, so as to pass freely in and out, but are arranged so as not to be entirely withdrawn when permanently arranged in these eyelets. The upper fastening or bar A is so arranged by bending its inner end, as shown, which is left sufficiently open to permit its insertion in the eyelet, and is closed farther after being inserted, so as to prevent its removal. The fastening or'bar B consists of a bentdouble bar or long buttonshank, as shown, the two ends being inserted in the button or head, and the two portions of the bar being sufficiently far apart to permit them to move freely over a thread or wire, I), which is inserted across the eyelets E after the bar is placed in position through the eyelet. 0 shows a strip of leather or other material, which is sewed upon the lower portion of shoe, eyelets first being inserted in it, so as to be just opposite the eyelets in flap of shoe when turned down, the object of this being to permit the bars to slide between the piece 0 and the lower portion of shoe, so as not to come in contact with the foot.

The eyelets may be inserted in the lower flap of shoe, and a plain strip sewed underneath the flap, if preferred.

Instead of a strip and eyelets, I use at D an eye or staple of wire, as shown mono plainly in Fig. 8, with which the bar engages or hooks into.

Fig. 7 shows the under side of flap with the wires or threads across the eyelets in same, to prevent the removal of double-shanked bars B when permanently in position upon the shoe, these being inserted between the double shanks B after they are passed through the eyelets.

The bars A and B have one end terminating in a button or suitable projection or ornament, and are bent, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, so that the portion under the shoe-flap or article when it is fastened will be nearly at right angles to the portion extending through the eyelets in shoe or fabric.

When it is desired to fasten the shoes, the inner end of the bars are pushed through the eyelets in upper flap of shoe. The extreme end of bar is inserted in the eyelet, or eye, or staple upon the lower flap, and the bar is then used as a lever to draw the upper flap over and down upon the lower portion of shoe until the eyelets come together, when the bar is pushed inward until the bent portion adjoining the head of bar enters the eyelets, by which it is held securely in position until it is purposely withdrawn, the bend in bar preventing its working out.

I thus make a very simple, cheap, effective, durable, and easily-applied fastening, which dispenses with lacings and button-holes, which latter are expensive to make, and objectionable, on account of liability to fray out and become worn.

When the shoe or article is fastened, only the button or ornamental head is seen, and it presents a neater appearance than when button-holes are used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is Q I meme 1. A fastening for shoes, garments, and 2. A wire or thread placed across an eyeother articles, consisting of a bar or rod passlet or opening in shoes, garments, &e., subing through holes or eyelets in one portion stantially as and for the purpose specified. of the article to be fastened, so as to slide in and out without being removable therefrom, GEO. MERRILL. and arranged to engage with eyelet, staple, or suitable device on the opposite portion of Witnesses: the article, substantially as and for the pur- I. L. MERRILL, pose described. EDWIN W. HULL. 

